SB 0056 Summary

• Establishes the private forestland enhancement fund within the state treasury to provide direct assistance, indirect assistance, and administrative costs for private forestland management programs.

• Creates a statewide list of qualified foresters maintained by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, with foresters required to register and maintain continuing education requirements.

• Authorizes conservation districts to provide landowners with technical assistance regarding forestry, wildlife habitat, and wetland development, and to post notices seeking forest management services on their websites.

• Allows conservation districts to prepare forest management plans for nonindustrial private forestlands only after a 30-day notice period on their website fails to identify a private forester willing to do so, subject to department approval.

• Repeals existing forest management provisions and establishes new oversight mechanisms for conservation district forestry activities, including restrictions on professional foresters employed through grants from competing with private businesses.